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In our culture, candy comes out at special times—when you’re giving holiday gifts to friends and family, decorating a gingerbread house, taking your kids tricking-or-treating, or indulging yourself for a moment.

Sweet Truths:

Chocolate Might Help Grandpa Think More Clearly

Emerging research suggests that naturally occurring compounds in cocoa, called flavanols, may sharpen your mind. An August 2012 study found that regularly eating cocoa might help improve brain function in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment. See more about chocolate and health.

Sweets May Make You Seem Sweet

One recent study shows that people who like sweet foods often are more social. Participants who were given candy reported feeling more agreeable, independent of their mood, and they were more likely to volunteer their time.

Maybe this is why when we look at people who like sweet foods, we may expect that they are pleasant to be around or why we use “sweetie” as a term of endearment.

Chocolate Consumers May Be Happier

Another study suggests that chocolate can give you a sense of well-being.

Researchers studying a group of more than 1,200 elderly men found that those who preferred chocolate had better subjective health, optimism, and feelings of happiness than other candy consumers. They also had lower body mass index (BMI) and thinner waists, which may have boosted feelings of health and well-being, too. See more about chocolate and well-being.